Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools
Encyclopedia
Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools, ACCTS, is a Christian theological "approval" board that is not recognized as an educational accreditor by the United States Department of Education
(USDE). It is located in the state of Louisiana
. Gary Wilson is the current president.
ACCTS holds no government license or official recognition. In the United States, recognition by the USDE or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA) confers an academic legitimacy on accrediting organizations. A higher education
institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the USDE or CHEA in order for the institution and its students to be eligible for government grants and student financial assistance.
In 2004, a correspondent or associate level membership could be obtained in six weeks for $100 and $200 respectively. The group charged an annual fee of $300 for "full institutional approval", which it says included a site visit and approval by an evaluation team.
In 2005, Tyndale Theological Seminary
(which was at that time an ACCTS member institution) was fined $173,000 for issuing degrees without meeting state standards and calling itself a "seminary
" without having accreditation
. Charges were dismissed in 2007 when the Texas Supreme Court
ruled that the state
government lacked legal jurisdiction over religious education or training.
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
(USDE). It is located in the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. Gary Wilson is the current president.
ACCTS holds no government license or official recognition. In the United States, recognition by the USDE or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA) confers an academic legitimacy on accrediting organizations. A higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the USDE or CHEA in order for the institution and its students to be eligible for government grants and student financial assistance.
In 2004, a correspondent or associate level membership could be obtained in six weeks for $100 and $200 respectively. The group charged an annual fee of $300 for "full institutional approval", which it says included a site visit and approval by an evaluation team.
History
The ACCTS website says that it was founded as an approval agency for those schools which for various reasons may choose not to affiliate with a regional or other professional accrediting agency because the qualifications and standards of "such accrediting agencies may run counter to the convictions and purposes of Christian schools" and because the "external interference with internal policies by organizations or agencies with different goals and purposes than the Christian university, college or seminary may prove to be non-productive".In 2005, Tyndale Theological Seminary
Tyndale Theological Seminary
Tyndale Theological Seminary is an unaccredited private Christian seminary with its campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Tyndale's 2007-2008 Academic Catalog states: "Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute is not accredited, and has no plans to pursue any type of accreditation for several...
(which was at that time an ACCTS member institution) was fined $173,000 for issuing degrees without meeting state standards and calling itself a "seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
" without having accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
. Charges were dismissed in 2007 when the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
ruled that the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
government lacked legal jurisdiction over religious education or training.
Requirements
The requirements for approval by ACCTS are: proof of the solicitation of new students, the transfer of credits, "admission policies and procedures," a "financial policy," "learning experience," a "limitation" on life credit, a library, student records, "staff," and "facilities."Schools approved by ACCTS
- California Pacific School of TheologyCalifornia Pacific School of TheologyCalifornia Pacific School of Theology is an unaccredited Christian institution of higher learning in Glendale, California. The school does not offer distance education; it requires "regular attendance."-Accreditation:...
(aka Pacific School of Theology) - Louisiana Baptist UniversityLouisiana Baptist UniversityLouisiana Baptist University is an accredited theologically conservative Christian university, founded in 1973, located at 6301 Westport Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana....
- Pacific International UniversityPacific International UniversityPacific International University was an unaccredited, conservative, Christian university and seminary located in Springfield, Missouri. 1989 alumnus of Pacific International University Carl Baugh was the university president...
(aka Pacific College Incorporated and Pacific College of Graduate Studies) - Pacific National UniversityPacific National UniversityPacific National University is the oldest university in Khabarovsk Russia. It was established in 1958. Today University trains over 21 thousand students in 54 different majors.- :...
- Tyndale Theological SeminaryTyndale Theological SeminaryTyndale Theological Seminary is an unaccredited private Christian seminary with its campus in Fort Worth, Texas. Tyndale's 2007-2008 Academic Catalog states: "Tyndale Theological Seminary and Biblical Institute is not accredited, and has no plans to pursue any type of accreditation for several...
See also
- Educational accreditationEducational accreditationEducational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning